Platycheirus scutatus

Platycheirus scutatus (Meigen, 1822)

Biology & ecology:

The larva preys on a variety of aphid species on low growing plants, bushes and low tree foliage. A species of woodland edge (both coniferous and deciduous) and scrub, including hedgerows, parks and mature gardens. Adults are usually found resting on sun-lit vegetation or visiting a wide range of flowers in clearings, tacksides, etc. It is multiple brooded and has a long flight period.


This species was separated from P. splendidus by Rotheray (1998) and from P. aurolateralis by Stubbs (2002). It remains a very common species that occurs widely throughout the British Isles but is as yet less well recorded from northerly areas.

Status & conservation:

The frequency of occurrence plot is for 'Platycheirus scutatus sensu lat.' i.e. including P. splendidus and P. aurolateralis. The trend suggests that this complex has undergone a significant decline in occurrence over the last 35 years.

Recorded from 1211 hectads since 1990.